The Dark Sentinel (2):
The party fought well.
In fact, it was a little surprising.
Particularly, Lee Hyun-sung, who stepped up to the front lines with me without anyone telling him to, and Jung Hee-won, who supported him with great judgment—both were very effective.
The battle naturally took on the formation of the three of us up front, and the remaining three covering the rear.
Thwack!
Less than a minute after the battle began, several earth mole-rats lay lifeless on the ground, their throats pierced.
Wiping sweat from his forehead after taking down another charging mole-rat, Lee Hyun-sung said:
"…I think we can do this."
Once overall stats are raised, humanity isn't all that weak.
Even so, Lee Hyun-sung's mental fortitude was something truly extraordinary in this world. An ordinary human wouldn't remain this composed when encountering monsters.
He didn't earn the title Steel Swordmaster in the future for nothing.
But what was even more surprising was Jung Hee-won.
"These things have simpler patterns than I thought."
Yelp!
Her [Swordsmanship] skill clearly wasn't just for show—every time her blade struck, an earth mole-rat lost a leg, a tail, or some other body part.
"Haaaah!"
Jung Hee-won had recently invested all her coins into strength. Her stamina was lacking, but each of her blows carried surprising force.
Whoosh!
Before I could even finish thinking, her sword sliced through the air.
"Damn it, one got through! Cover me!"
Her voice trembled, likely from being out of breath. Low stamina due to her low endurance stat was probably her only weakness.
Grrrr!
The mole-rat that forced its way through the group despite its injuries was clever. It succeeded in breaking our formation, and with hunter's instincts, it charged at the one who looked weakest.
"Leave it to me."
But the mole-rat had picked the wrong target—and it didn't know it.
Thump!
Lee Gil-young swung his blunt weapon with his small hands, striking the mole-rat on the head. Though he was a child and his attack power was lacking, it was enough. The others could finish it off.
Stab!
Yoo Sang-ah's sharpened spear pierced the mole-rat's torso. It twisted a few times, but Yoo Sang-ah didn't loosen her grip despite the strain on her face.
Squeeeak...
The mole-rat, drained of strength, collapsed.
Honestly, I had thought Yoo Sang-ah would have trouble adapting, but she was surprisingly capable. Normally, someone would panic like Han Myung-oh, who was just standing there.
"Ugh, ughhhh..."
Even as the group fought hard, Han Myung-oh just tried to hide in the back. He failed even at that and had a bleeding bite on his shin.
Yelp... Squish!
With my thorn skewering the last mole-rat, the surroundings finally fell silent. I flicked the blood off the thorn and surveyed the group. Aside from Han Myung-oh, everyone had only minor scratches—no serious injuries.
A solid first victory.
Yoo Sang-ah and Lee Gil-young collapsed where they stood, visibly relieved. Lee Hyun-sung planted his spear into the ground and wiped his forehead. Jung Hee-won sighed as she counted the dead mole-rats.
"...Dokja, how many did you take down on your own?"
"Four."
"Psh, I only got two."
"I took down three."
Lee Hyun-sung lifted his spear proudly, and I felt a twinge of wounded pride.
Even though I wasn't fighting at full strength, the difference was only one.
I activated a skill to peek at Lee Hyun-sung's trait window.
Name: Lee Hyun-sung
Age: 28
Guardian Star: Lord of Steel
Exclusive Trait: Soldier Who Turned a Blind Eye to Injustice (Normal)
Exclusive Skills: [Bayonet Combat Lv.2], [Camouflage Lv.1], [Patience Lv.1], [Sense of Justice Lv.1], [Weapon Polish Lv.2]
Stigma: [Push of Mount Tai Lv.1]
Overall Stats: [Stamina Lv.12], [Strength Lv.9], [Agility Lv.9], [Magic Power Lv.6]
Overall Evaluation: A trigger for trait evolution is approaching. This individual trusts you significantly. The guardian star is wary of you.
Currently under 'Starter Pack' effects.
Hah... A 'Starter Pack,' huh?
No wonder he's strong.
Apparently, the Lord of Steel really liked Lee Hyun-sung.
The Starter Pack is a coin package available only when a constellation's average overall stats are under level 10.
It instantly raises all stat levels by one and grants [Weapon Polish], a highly useful early skill.
Considering most constellations are exploited with zero investment, Lee Hyun-sung was incredibly lucky.
"Dokja, you don't look well…"
"Oh, no. I was just thinking for a bit."
Sure, I'm a little jealous… but hey, it's not like I can't afford a Starter Pack—I just choose not to. My average overall stat level is already way past 10, so buying it now would be a waste.
Damn, if only I'd opened the goblin loot bag a little sooner...
"Let's gather the mole-rat corpses. We'll need food for today."
"Hmm… but how are we supposed to cook this? We can't eat it raw."
"Not right now, but we'll find a way."
Maybe I sounded too calm.
A brief silence fell among the group. The first to speak was Lee Hyun-sung.
"Actually, there's something I'd like to ask you…"
"Yes?"
"Dokja… do you know something about all this?"
Damn.
"Well, that is..."
Suddenly, I thought of all the protagonists in regression novels I'd read—then Yoo Joong-hyuk's face popped into my mind.
So this is what it felt like… the mindset of a regressor.
What did regressors usually say at times like this?
A few typical answers came to mind. Some just said, "It's a hunch," while others lied like I once did to Yoo Joong-hyuk.
[The Constellation 'Secret Schemer' awaits your choice.]
[A few Constellations are anticipating your answer.]
But, from a reader's perspective, the best option is:
Keep creating situations where you don't have to answer.
[The Constellation 'Secret Schemer' nods at your choice.]
"There's still one left!"
Jung Hee-won shouted, and Lee Hyun-sung rushed forward.
But the hidden mole-rat was even faster.
This one was much larger than the others.
Chomp—
"S-someone help meee...!"
The mole cricket that had caught hold of Han Myung-oh's leg dragged him into the tunnel it had dug. Yoo Sang-ah, who was closest, swung her spear, but the panicked Han Myung-oh clung to her in fear, making things worse.
"Take this!"
Lee Hyun-sung belatedly reached out for the spear handle, but his spear only struck the empty ground.
By then, the mole cricket and the two had already vanished into the earth.
[The Constellation, 'Prisoner of the Golden Gua', is outraged by the expected frustration.]
Jung Hee-won burst out angrily.
"Ugh… I knew that man was going to give me cancer, seriously."
"…I'm sorry. I was too late."
Lee Hyun-sung said in a heavy voice. I patted his shoulder, signaling that it was all right.
"No one could've done anything."
"Should we go after them?"
I examined the tunnel the creature had disappeared into. It wasn't an ordinary hole. I could feel something in the air—like the texture of darkness itself, ground smooth and fine.
While pretending to think, I subtly stepped back and turned on my smartphone.
Only 5% battery remained. It was a charge I had bartered for with food from the outcast group earlier that dawn.
[Due to trait effects, your reading speed has increased!]
It didn't take long to find the section I wanted.
"…The [Veil of Darkness], inhabited by mole crickets, is a type of subspace emitted from the demonic tree called the [Root of Darkness]. Mole crickets, who breathe black ether instead of oxygen, cannot survive unless they are near the [Veil of Darkness]…"
I had a general idea, but it was worth reviewing.
So that's it.
This was the entrance to the [Veil of Darkness].
After finishing the relevant passage, I put the phone back in my pocket.
"Reader?"
Lee Hyun-sung looked at me with concern. I nodded.
"I'm going in."
"Ah, then—"
"But it's too risky for many of us to go. Mr. Lee Hyun-sung, Ms. Jung Hee-won, please guard this spot. I'll send a signal if anything happens."
Jung Hee-won asked in shock:
"You're going in with only Gilyoung?"
"Gilyoung's abilities will be helpful in tracking the creature."
She seemed about to strongly object, but I raised a hand and called out to Lee Hyun-sung.
"And Mr. Lee Hyun-sung, Ms. Jung Hee-won is still unwell, so please take good care of her."
Lee Hyun-sung seemed to realize something from that.
"Understood."
"Wait a second. I am fine!"
"Ms. Jung Hee-won, confidence is good, but recklessness isn't."
"…"
Jung Hee-won still looked unsteady. She hadn't completely recovered from the poison mist's effects.
Leaving the two behind, I entered the tunnel with Lee Gilyoung. Though the passage sloped almost vertically, the moment we entered, it felt like gravity had shifted and we could walk normally.
It was the magic released by the [Veil of Darkness].
"This way."
The darkness was so thick you couldn't tell one inch from the next. I had to rely entirely on the tips of Lee Gilyoung's fingers to guide me forward. The black ether absorbed all light, so flashlights were useless. Without Gilyoung's [Multi-Species Communion] ability, I probably would've had to use coins again.
"Hey, hyung."
Gilyoung called out to me.
"You let that happen on purpose, didn't you?"
"…What?"
"When that monster took noona and the ahjussi, you let it take them."
I paused. Gilyoung's hand felt unfamiliar in the darkness. Before I could ask how he knew, he continued:
"I saw your face back then."
Even in that brief moment, he had watched me. What a frightening kid. There's no use hiding things from someone this sharp.
"…Yeah, you're right."
No sooner had I answered than a flurry of messages exploded in my mind. Of course, to the constellations, this was just another form of entertainment.
[Constellations of the Absolute Good alignment frown at your cruelty.]
[The Constellation, 'The Subtle Schemer,' gleams with interest and urges you on.]
"Why did you do it?"
"Because of the mole cricket's habits."
I decided to be honest.
"Mole crickets tend to store their captured prey in one place. Not just food, but they also collect rare-looking items—like artifacts. But their storage routes are so complicated that unless we follow the exact path the creature took, we'll never find it."
Gilyoung was silent for a moment. I continued.
"I expected it to take Han Myung-oh. I didn't expect Yoo Sang-ah to get dragged along too."
"So your goal isn't to save noona and the ahjussi—it's the items, right?"
"Yeah. Disappointed?"
"No."
I felt Gilyoung's small hand tighten around my fingers.
"Hyung is bad at lying."
"…."
"If you were really that kind of person, you wouldn't have saved me in the subway. I believe in you."
Lee Gilyoung might not act like a kid, but he's still just a child.
He doesn't know yet—
That being mature is completely different from becoming an adult.
[Several Constellations are moved to tears.]
[You've received 200 coins in sponsorship.]
And that this world is full of despicable adults who exploit that "maturity" for their own gain.
The tunnel was longer than expected. We had to descend for quite a while.
"Hey, hyung."
"Yeah?"
"Are you… a god?"
"…What?"
"Or are you the 'main character'?"
Children sometimes ask frighteningly perceptive questions. Maybe it's because they live in a world where metaphor and reality aren't clearly distinguished. Gilyoung likely didn't even fully grasp what he was asking.
"I'm not a god or a protagonist. If anything, I used to envy the protagonist."
"But you do know something about this world, right?"
I hesitated before answering.
"That's true."
"Then let me ask just one thing."
"If I can answer it."
"If we clear all the scenarios… can we make a wish?"
"A wish?"
I was a bit caught off guard.
"In stories like this, there's usually a reward at the end, right? Is there something like that at the end of this one?"
Gilyoung's breath trembled in the darkness.
Suddenly, I remembered the expression on his face when he looked at his dead mother.
People who adapt to this world all suffer in their own ways. Some with madness, some with fanaticism, and others with irrational hope.
"…Yeah. There is."
I was grateful that the darkness here was so deep—
Because it meant Gilyoung couldn't see my expression right now.
"We're almost there, hyung."
The surrounding black ether was rapidly thinning. A sign that the [Root of Darkness] was nearby. I tensed and drew my thorn.
[A handful of Constellations hold their breath.]
Somewhere ahead, I heard the sound of mole crickets scuttling across the floor. As the sound drew closer, the sense of space expanded rapidly. A faint light appeared, as if someone had lit a flame in the darkness.
And beyond that light, there was a grimy black chest.
The moment I was sure we had arrived, a message rang in my ears.
[The sub-scenario has been updated.]
[You have entered the 'Mole Cricket's Treasure Vault.']